My first Squib load - not a fun time

Well, I just experienced my first ever squib load - I've been shooting rifles for nearly 40 years and I've never had this happen. I loaded a FACTORY .357 cartridge into my brother-in-law's Henry rifle, pulled the trigger and heard a "fffuuuppphhh" - I ejected the case and looked down the barrel only to find a bullet stuck about 2" from the barrel end. It took me 20 minutes to find a dowel in order to push it back through. (glad I was paying attention when I fired off the round and didn't follow it with another round).

I've been reloading bullets for about the past 5 years and I've never had any problem of this type. To add insult to the situation, my brother-in-law then fed .357 round bullets into my Marlin 336 (30/30) - the sound wasn't too good when that round went off either. I promptly removed all of the ammo and my rifle from the range and called it quits for the day.

Arrgghhhh!

Paul

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dmazur

July 6, 2011, 10:55 PM

Murphy was an optimist... :)

Sig88

July 7, 2011, 12:05 PM

That sucks. I feel ya though. My first squib was my first gun(S&W M&P9c) on the first shot, 15 minutes after buying the gun the day after my birthday. Needless to say I was embarrassed and frustrated and the sarcastic guy at the counter didnt make the situation any better. At least he was able to hammer it out and gave me some lube for the gun. Learned the hard way to always clean new guns before use.

jcwit

July 7, 2011, 12:18 PM

You're more than lucky if that was a wood dowel that it didn't split and jam up in the bore making matters even worse. Very easily done.

amlevin

July 7, 2011, 12:54 PM

Funny thing, I stopped having any squib loads when I started carrying the necessary tools to clear the results.

I had one in a 9mm where it took almost an hour at the range to find a suitable punch to remove the bullet from the barrel. Decided to add one to my range bag and since then, almost 7 years now, no squibs. It apparently is just like leaving home with an umbrella, no rain at all. Go figure.

rodregier

July 7, 2011, 01:01 PM

Better to have a squib rod and not need it, than to need a squib rod and not have it. With any luck you'll only be loaning it to others :-)

Small machinists hammer complements it very nicely.

1SOW

July 7, 2011, 10:26 PM

A brass rod and a medium large ball peen.
Murphy says: "If you shoot a lot, it'll happen eventually".

edit to add: A 5/16' brass rod if you shoot 9mm

KansasPaul

July 10, 2011, 12:31 AM

Well, I'm going searching for a brass rod... already have the hammer. I made an incorrect assumption that I would never personally experience a squib. Now that it's happened, I'm taking out insurance by spending money on a brass rod. I expect that I'll never need it again.... but just in case it does happen again, I'll be prepared.

Blessings,

Paul

codefour

July 11, 2011, 12:47 AM

I had my first, two squibs the other day too.. The funny thing is, I always loaded on single stage and never ever had a problem. I started using my friends Dillon 550B and had two squibs with the ammo I loaded on his Dillon. Those progressives can get confusing when you are not used to them.

Now, I only load handgun on a progressive, a RCBS Pro 2000, no squibs or kabooms as of yet (knock on wood). I do keep a brass squib rod and hammer with me now on the range.

Oic0

July 11, 2011, 03:32 PM

To add insult to the situation, my brother-in-law then fed .357 round bullets into my Marlin 336 (30/30) - the sound wasn't too good when that round went off either

I'm interested in seeing the results of that.

cfullgraf

July 11, 2011, 07:01 PM

Well, I'm going searching for a brass rod... already have the hammer. l

Check Metal Express for brass rod. They will sell metal pieces cut to length and the prices are reasonable. Get several diameters for different bores. Get several lengths for different length barrels.

Shop on line in the comfort of your own home.

I have purchased some brass from them, but mostly have purchased steel and aluminum for fabrication/machining projects.

Sin City Shootist

July 11, 2011, 07:22 PM

I got my first squib about 3 months ago. The case didn't get powder and the primer had just enough to stick the bullet up the barrel about an inch. I used a hardened steel rod wrapped with duct tape to protect the barrel.

Too_Pure

July 12, 2011, 05:35 PM

I had two squibs two trips to the range in a row. Sounded like poping a cork. First one ended the day for me. Second one I was prepared, but still frustrated and discouraged. I'm certain the reason for the squibs was simply sweat. Until a couple days ago my reloading bench was in my garage. I live in Arizona. It is too hot to be doing anything in the garage lately. I'm certain that one of my big drops of sweat landed in a charged case becasue I inspected them for powder, all of them. It had to be fouled powder from my profuse sweating.

All that is over though. I got a wooden workhorse from home depot for 20 bucks. It's light but stron and stable and fits in and out the door easily. Bolted my press and powder doser to it. No more outside reloading until October.

One thing I hear about is people shooting another round after a squib and blowing up their gun. My gun did not cycle. So there was no opportunity to shoot again. How do you get a squib and an ejected case?

Strykervet

July 12, 2011, 06:11 PM

I've used a hardwood dowel. Has to be a good hard wood though. I am more careful now and I weigh each charge and don't depend on a powder meter. If I have one now, I'll just bring it home.

I guess if I were to make one, if it happens again, I'll make a slide hammer type out of an old coated .22 cleaning rod, or coat a military one with a thick sleeve made of heat shrink. A couple of fender washers welded or slid close to the end with a heavy rubber cork and a piece of conduit or water pipe over that for the hammer. A plastic washer and a couple of nuts go on the other end. Then use a long thin 24" drill bit with the rod coated with a few layers of heat shrink to safely drill out the bullet. Insert the rod and attach the washer and nut and pull it against the back of the bullet. Then using the pipe, hammer it out, pulling it out the muzzle.

This eliminates the possibility of the wood splitering and brings the bullet out the right direction. It would be easy to make and wouldn't damage the weapon if made right.

The drill bit can be found from security system dealers or ordered from electrical supply stores. 1/4" is the common small diameter, but smaller ones can be ordered.

I thought about using a screw or screw remover, but that could expand the bullet making it tighter; it could also pull out making it necessary to make a slide hammer anyway.

GLOOB

July 12, 2011, 06:41 PM

This eliminates the possibility of the wood splitering and brings the bullet out the right direction.
The right direction is towards the end that's closer. Otherwise, what's the difference?

Kewl idea. But you lost me with the 24" drill bit and drill. I don't see many people carrying that around to the range.

Too_Pure

July 13, 2011, 01:14 PM

I've not needed a hammer. I just stuck the dowel in, grabbed the barrel, and firmly whacked the end of the dowel on the floor. Popped right out on whack #2.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Canuck-IL

July 13, 2011, 01:38 PM

Excellent source for inexpensive brass rods in multiple diameters, as well as most other bits'n'pieces of metal. My orders have shipped within 1 day.
http://www.speedymetals.com/

/Bryan

EMC45

July 13, 2011, 02:31 PM

Only had one squib my whole life. Been reloading since 98 and shooting since 82. I reload 19 centerfire calibers and 12 and 20 ga. I cast all my own bullets too. I was shooting with the wife's cousin and he was shooting his dad's Model 59 Smith. He stated early into the range session that he didn't want me to shoot reloads through the gun (I had had the gun for about a month and shot about 100 reloads through it already) I said fine, go ahead and shoot and I'll do my thing over here. I hear a funny noise and look up and he is standing there staring at the pistol that has now jammed. I go over and lo and behold it was a squib round. Halfway kicked out the spent case and bound up the gun. Bullet just started to engage the rifling and would have prevented another round from chambering and going into full battery thankfully enough. It was Remington grey/green box 9MM FMJs BTW. No reloads.

Too_Pure

July 13, 2011, 05:47 PM

Only had one squib my whole life. Been reloading since 98 and shooting since 82. I reload 19 centerfire calibers and 12 and 20 ga. I cast all my own bullets too. I was shooting with the wife's cousin and he was shooting his dad's Model 59 Smith. He stated early into the range session that he didn't want me to shoot reloads through the gun (I had had the gun for about a month and shot about 100 reloads through it already) I said fine, go ahead and shoot and I'll do my thing over here. I hear a funny noise and look up and he is standing there staring at the pistol that has now jammed. I go over and lo and behold it was a squib round. Halfway kicked out the spent case and bound up the gun. Bullet just started to engage the rifling and would have prevented another round from chambering and going into full battery thankfully enough. It was Remington grey/green box 9MM FMJs BTW. No reloads.

Now that's justice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

THe Dove

July 13, 2011, 07:45 PM

This is good info, please keep the post's coming.

The Dove

Sent from my computer at home!!!!!! No ipad, no iphone, no lap top, just my puter at home.

amlevin

July 13, 2011, 08:14 PM

For my 9mm "Squib Rod" I took a cheap, 1/4" drive extension about 8" long and put a wrap of vinyl tape on it. It just fits the bore of the barrel and the tape keeps the metal (chromed and polished surface of extension) from contacting the metal of the barrel. Some extra tape wrapped around the socket head end will keep the tool from contacting the crown once the bullet is dislodged. Since it fits the bore pretty close there is no danger of the exposed head damaging the bore.

snuffy

July 13, 2011, 11:09 PM

Well, I just experienced my first ever squib load - I've been shooting rifles for nearly 40 years and I've never had this happen. I loaded a FACTORY .357 cartridge into my brother-in-law's Henry rifle, pulled the trigger and heard a "fffuuuppphhh"

What you had was a defective factory round. Not a squib reload. Even the definition of "squib" is somewhat clouded. It can refer to a very lightly loaded round that still shoots a bullet with low velocity. Mostly it refers to a no powder or extreme under load that lodges a bullet in the barrel.

Using anything other that hardwood or brass to shove down a barrel to free a stuck bullet is foolhardy. I will NOT use anything made of steel no matter what it's wrapped with.

KansasPaul

July 14, 2011, 08:34 PM

Just like EMC45, my defective round was also a Remington in the green/gray box. I have NEVER had any issues with my handloads - in fact, I take great pride in the quality of my reloaded ammo and most of my shooting buddies like my ammo better than any of the cheap factory ammo (at least that's what they tell while they shoot it)...

Paul

GaryL

July 14, 2011, 09:57 PM

Just like EMC45, my defective round was also a Remington in the green/gray box. I have NEVER had any issues with my handloads - in fact, I take great pride in the quality of my reloaded ammo and most of my shooting buddies like my ammo better than any of the cheap factory ammo (at least that's what they tell while they shoot it)...

PaulWell if you are giving them away, your handloads are far cheaper than that 'cheap' factory stuff they shoot.

KansasPaul

July 15, 2011, 11:08 PM

Gary, I never said that I was giving them away - but now that I think of it...........

atlanticfire

August 5, 2011, 03:27 PM

Last year had my first. It was in a rifle and I didn't even hear the pppfffft. But knew that the round that I just chambered was a complete round and was empty upon ejection. Didn't have a rod to get it out, had to drive home.....damn it.

driftpin

August 5, 2011, 07:20 PM

I did one on my .357 Mag SP101. It shut down my shooting for the day. That is the crappiest sound you can hear!! Floooomp. Well I guess it's better than KABOOM. I bought some different lengths and diameters of drill rod off eBay and have only used them for punching out other friends mistakes now. I double check now before I start pressing bullets in. Sometimes I'll get so anal, if one feels light, I'll weigh a few and check to see if its close.

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